Game Description:The James Bond 007: Blood Stone video game is being developed by critically acclaimed developer Bizarre Creations for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC under license from EON Productions Ltd and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM). Additionally, an original Nintendo DS game is being developed from the ground up by n-Space.

James Bond 007: Blood Stone Review

Fueled by Daniel Craig's no-nonsense take on the British secret agent, Blood Stone's 100% Bond. Unfortunately, forgettable gameplay reduces it to an average third-person shooter with a pretty 007 paintjob.

The Pros

Cinematic action worthy of Bond license

More gritty Craig than gimmicky Brosnan

The Cons

Gameplay is more shallow than a shaken martini

James Bond 007: Blood Stone Review:

While 2008’s Quantum of Solace was the first double-0 outing to feature actor Daniel Craig, developer Treyarch's sub-par third-person shooter failed to capture the essence of his badass take on Bond. So, as a huge fan of the world-saving MI6 agent, I was relieved when Activision turned the tuxedo-sporting super spy over to Bizarre Creations for a much needed reboot.

Given their Project Gotham Racing, Blur and The Club pedigree, I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to renew my license to kill. Sadly, my expectations may have been set too high, as James Bond 007: Blood Stone, while an improvement over QoS, falls short of the brand spanking new Bond I was hoping for.

Bond. James Bond.

There’s no question the game captures Craig’s brutal, simmering style. Complemented by motion capture work by the actor’s stunt double, Craig’s voice-over, and a convincing character model, the on-screen spy looks and sounds like the real deal. The fast-paced gameplay, supported by highly cinematic action, further puts you in Bond’s globe-trotting shoes.

Shooting and melee is blended seamlessly, allowing players to snap necks and unload clips in the blink of an eye. Additionally, a decent duck-and-cover system fuels the action with cornering, switching, blind-firing and vaulting moves. Stringing together combat take-downs, shooting, and cover maneuvers at break-neck speeds definitely puts you in control of Craig’s more relentless, brooding Bond.

Slick fighting animations are similarly worthy of the silver screen, but also lack any gameplay depth; simply hit the attack button when close to a baddie, and Bond breaks their bones like peanut brittle. Sure, it looks cool, but seasoned action gamers will no doubt miss the refinement and nuance of more sophisticated fisticuffs. Blood Stone's flying elbows and bullets yield plenty of surface seat-of-your-tuxedo-pants thrills, but ultimately feel pretty shallow under their flashy facade.

When you're not busting skulls or popping evildoers like ducks in a shooting gallery, you'll be exercising Bond's notorious lead foot in the cockpit of the expected sporty rides. Given Bizarre's previous pedal-to-the-metal-pleasing efforts, I expected Blood Stone's driving segments to shine brighter than a crotch-aimed laser. But sadly, the behind-the-wheel action similarly suffers from a lack of substantial gameplay.

Beyond holding down the accelerator and occasionally pulling the hand brake, you'll do little more than race through linear paths, hoping to hit the next checkpoint before dying. Set pieces and explosive effects that could put Bruckheimer out of business keep things visually exciting, but it'd be nice to have our thumbs engaged as well as our eyes.

You Only Live Once? Twice?

Blood Stone's presentation is anchored in all the familiar Bond tropes; exotic locales, hot cars, hotter woman, and villains who want to rule the world. This is hardly a criticism. On the contrary, I expect and want his from a Bond-starring action-adventure. Combined with an accurate portrayal of Craig's take-no-s*#t secret agent, and a non film-tied narrative, these elements successfully deliver a playable chapter in the long running espionage film series.

Unfortunately, the developers have taken the interactive movie concept too far, offering plenty of popcorn thrills, but little in the way of satisfying gameplay. Blood Stone's six hour campaign will surely scratch your Bond itch, and its entertaining multi-player modes might even pull you from Halo's and Call of Duty's frontlines for a weekend. But like a pea-shooter painted gold, Blood Stone's more style than substance.

"Blood Stone's six hour campaign will surely scratch your Bond itch, and its entertaining multi-player modes might even pull you from Halo's and Call of Duty's frontlines for a weekend. But like a pea-shooter painted gold, Blood Stone's more style than substance."

Sad. I wonder how much of the lack of depth can be attributed to the license and time restrictions placed on Bizzare by the MGM and the publishers? You would think that if a gamve developer had a blank check for time and creativity they could make a Bond game on par with Uncharted in story and playability.

You guys know that if G4 wanted you to review the games for them, they would ask that, or pay you. Maybe you should start your own site to review games, and shut up and let the people do what they are paid to do. If you don't agree with a review then thats fine, its called opinion....

I just don't get why some people have to throw a hissy fit, like a 6 year-old girl, when the reviewer doesn't agree exactly with person's own opinion.

If you really don't like the reviews on this site, go to another one that will give you the review you want to see, no matter how biased and unreliable it actually is. This way, you won't be disappointed by the review and the rest us, who look to G4 for unbiased reviews, won't have to put up with all of your incessant whining.

I think I am a bloodfly at this point. I try not to look at any of G4s reviews (because they are all bad with a few exceptions like abby, adam and morgan) but I really cant help to click the link. Reading a G4 review is like watching a slo-mo sports injury to the groin, its just so entertaining...

Thats too bad. This game really looked like it had potential and I personally had high hopes based on what I've seen of it so far. Not that I went out and reserved a copy or anything...and this is why. Nowadays I'm pretty picky about buying a new game right at release. If its one that I don't mind waiting to play until it goes cheaper then I'll wait. I've been buying more and more downloadable games these days too because of the price and variety. Guess I'll have to rent this one though.

i bought the game on tuesday for the ps3 having my hopes up thinking that this would be a bad ass game well i always been a bond fan since a kid so here i am thinking this good is going to be soo good and btw its covering the gap which there hasnt been a movie out for the past 2 years. I played the game and past the story mode in 5 hours and let me tell you i was very disappointed. The story was horrible the action was great but very poor story i didnt even know who was the ''BAD GUY'' in the story as well and at the end "SPOILER ALERT" when the bond girl played as joss stone gets killed at the end and she was behind everything and she was about to tell bond who the real bad guy is poff she gets shot i mean really? is there going to be a continuation? cause last time i checked bond movies (except Casino Royale" and games don't have sequels. Well at the end i got the game put it back in the case and went to best buy and got my money back guess for sure i wasnt going to pay this game again and it was probability going to collect dust. I must say goldeneye is much better true its like playing COD with bond characters but hey if you were a fan for the N64 game and want to relive it with your friends then why not go for it

Quantum of Solace was a good game. It was basically Modern Warefare (same engine, same graphics), except your Bond instead of Soap and they had more cutscenes and a cover mechanic. I liked that it was basically two games, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace (like 14 levels I think), plus online multiplayer was okay (too few weapons and customization).

G4 thinks this game will be better than Quantum? Then I should definitely rent it.

This review doesn't really tell much, except that the game is more of a movie than a game. Not helpful at all. Shallow gameplay? What does that mean. I give this review a 0/5.

the game (for me) was awsome!it was all i wanted in a bond game. action, hitting, shooting, driving!....explotions!i have alote!,alote! of video games ,yet i only buy the good ones. im picky with my games andthe only bad thing a see in bloodstone was the car handaling and the poor grafics. why such bad res!it could of been perfect! im playing fable 3 and star wars force unleashed 2 right know, and bond wins them all!!!! plus compared to the last game, you always see james bond on screen!

If gamefly didn't suck and we could rent games easily without waiting forever, then reviews wouldn't matter because then we could all try a game for ourselves. While I appreciate G4's attempt to review games, they have started to become very weak and filled with little to no information or examples of gameplay. I think I'm going to start and follow the previews only. (Except for Sesslers' reviews, they are the best).

CareyGrant,You may wanna reread the line you're criticizing. The writer's referring to the first Bond game (not movie) to star Craig.

"While 2008 s Quantum of Solace was the first double-0 outing to feature actor Daniel Craig, developer Treyarch's sub-par third-person shooter failed to capture the essence of his badass take on Bond."

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